SH*T THAT COMES OUT TODAY: FEBRUARY 28, 2012
In our tireless quest for metal excellence, we at MetalSucks aim to guide your wallets to the tastiest, most remarkable new metal music. And this week, beloved MetalSucks readers, we unveil to you a new section of our awesome new releases round-up, Shit That Comes Out Today: We call it More Shit That Comes Out Today. Pretty tight, right? There you’ll find listed all the many, many new hard and heavy records, more raging slams and guttural blasts than even we could cram into our already overstuffed jamholes. And now, you check out February 2012’s final new releases:
Asphyx
Deathhammer (Century Media)
On a playlist with: Slayer, Burzum, Shining
Listen Deathhammer full stream (here)
“This is true death metal, you bastards!” proclaims Asphyx’s Martin van Drunen (ex-Pestilence) on Deathhammer‘s title track, but that doesn’t do justice to the music: Asphyx works elements of death metal, black metal, and a doom-like heaviness, all delivered at freight train speed. Van Drunen’s vocals are typical death rasps, yet they have a unique delivery that doesn’t make them annoying from track one. Overall, dirty metal tunes done right.
***
Christian Mistress
Possession (Relapse)
On a playlist with: Iron Maiden, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Valient Thorr
Listen Possession full stream (here)
Christian Mistress’s 2010 debut, Agony & Opium, was a stand-out heavy metal record because you don’t see a lot of heavy metal bands with female vocalists. Even more rare is finding a female vocalist that actually sings. That record was full of catchy riffs, rock swagger, and great vocals, and Possession is a good follow-up. It doesn’t make any big leaps in songwriting, but you can see a dash of sophistication to the music, and the band is as tight as ever.
***
Corrosion Of Conformity
Corrosion Of Conformity (Candlelight)
On a playlist with: Cathedral, Trouble, Down
Listen “The Doom” and “Time Of Trials” (here)
The first album from COC in seven years reunites the 1985 Animosity album’s line-up, but this is far from that record’s crossover hardcore. This self-titled album nods to all the band’s modes, but best represents COC’s stoned metal strain. The tunes are fresh and sludgy, and it shows the guys are still relevant in 2012. This also marks the first album without Pepper Keenan since 1987’s Technocracy. Although the guys still say Pepper is part of the band, his commitments with Down kept him away from the writing and recording of this album.
***
Eluveitie
Helvetios (Nuclear Blast)
On a playlist with: Finntroll, The Haunted, Turisas
Listen Helvetios samples (here)
I first heard about this band when they were headlining a 2011 tour with 3 Inches Of Blood opening. What? And their music is tolerable, I guess. They mix Swedish melodic death metal with folk, making thorough use of various folky woodwinds. The thing is those whistles are really annoying. Even among the bagpipes, acoustic guitars, and hurdy gurdy, those whistles are just everywhere. I just think you need to add more to your folk thing than fucking whistles. This is Eluveitie’s fifth album.
***
Monarch
Omens (At A Loss)
On a playlist with: Burning Witch, Dark Castle, Khanate
Listen Omens full stream (here)
Doom metal at a creeping pace. Distortion in large amounts. Indecipherable screamed vocals with no hint of melody. Monarch isn’t a band for anyone with little patience or a penchant for drone, but those who do will dig Omens. Its three tracks fill 35 minutes and feature Dark Castle’s Rob Schaffer, whose excellent drum work is well-suited for Monarch.
***
Napalm Death
Utilitarian (Century Media)
On a playlist with: Brutal Truth, Hail Of Bullets, Dead In The Dirt
Listen Utilitarian full stream (here)
The 15th album from UK grind pioneers Napalm Death delivers the same intensity and brutality we’re used to. Come on, it’s Napalm Death, what do you expect? The follow-up to 2009’s Time Waits For No Slave doesn’t offer any surprises, and that’s a good thing. Napalm Death continues to impress. Read Sammy O’Hagar’s review of the album here.
***
MORE SHIT THAT COMES OUT THIS WEEK
Autopsy All Tomorrow’s Funerals (Peaceville)
Caliban I Am Nemesis (Century Media)
Church Of Misery Master Of Brutality reissue (Metal Blade)
Church Of Misery The Second Coming reissue (Metal Blade)
Death Vivus! (Relapse)
Degradead Live At Wacken And Beyond DVD (Metalville)
Desaster The Arts Of Destruction (above, Metal Blade)
Destroyer 666 Cold Steel … For An Iron Age reissue (Season Of Mist)
Djerv Djerv (Indie)
Dyscarnate And So It Came To Pass (Siege Of Amida)
Forgjord Sielunvihollinen (Hammer Of Hate)
Freedom Call Land Of The Crimson Dawn (SPV)
Funeral In Heaven/Plecto Aliquem Capite Astral Mantras of Dyslexia split (Dunkelheit)
Funeral Whore Step Into Damnation (Chaos)
Imminent Sonic Destruction Recurring Themes (FC)
Insense Burn In Beautiful Fire (Indie)
I, The Breather Truth And Purpose (Sumerian)
Lay Down Rotten Mask Of Malice (Metal Blade)
Morbid Angel Illud Divinum Insanus – The Remixes (Season Of Mist)
Narrows Painted (Deathwish Inc.)
Nattfog Mustan Auringon Riitti (Hammer Of Hate)
Nothnegal Decadence (Season Of Mist)
Opera Diabolicus 1614 (Metalville)
Rhope Turning Maybes Into Reality (Bakerteam)
Savage Messiah Plague Of Conscience (Earache)
Stéphan Forté The Shadows Compendium (Listenable)
Terrorizer Hordes Of Zombies (Season Of Mist)
T.R.A.M. Lingua Franca (Sumerian)
UFO Seven Deadly (SPV)
Veil Of Maya Eclipse (Sumerian)
Vengeance Crystal Eye (SPV)
-VV
Shit That Comes Out Today returns next week to thumb through new hard and heavy releases of March 6. So you can support metal to your maximum financial potential. I mean, let’s dream here: While the internet kills off everything else, we keep metal flourishing so it’s the only thing left! That’s worth $20 a week!
